Cigar-bunching machine.



no. 705,449. v Patented m 22, I902. J. H. scmvum.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

. (pplication filed May 29, 1901.

(No Model.) l4 Sheets-Shaat I.

INVENTOB JZZZZMLE Ye/mud! ATTORNEY I WITNESSES m: mums zvzns 00.. PHoTouma, wAsmuamu, DV 0.

No; 705,449. Patented July 22, I902.

.1. H. SCHMIDT. claA'n suucume MACHINE.

(Application filed May 29, 1901.)

(No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

INVENTDR WITNESSES:

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No. 705,449. Patented July 22, I902.

J. H. SCHMIDT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application Bled Kay 29, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheais--Sheat 3.

WITNESSEE: I'NVIENTUB a 4 fizZzwEdciz/mdt mi aims PETERS co FHGTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON. u c.

No. 705,449. Patented July 22, I902.

' J. H. SCHMIDT. I

CIGAR BUNCHIHG MACHINE.

(Application filed m zs, 1901. (No Model.) I4 SheetsSheet 4.

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl 7 I I H4 \wi INVENTOR Patented July 22, I902.

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INVENTOR JzZawI J'cizmz'clt 9 4 5 O 7 nm N CIGAR BUNOHING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

M M W M M ======fl m fi IHHIIllllllllllllll Patented July 22, I902.

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.1. H. SCHMIDT. I CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application Med May. 29, 1901.)

(No IVlqdeL') WITNESSES:

' Patented July 22, I902. J. H. SCHMIDT; v

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application flied m 26, 1901.

(No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 7.

. W6 14. a $1M 7 w 130 i I 179 K 1.90 :2 .50

WITNESSES: Jr ygugafli ll ms c m ATTORN EY J. H. SCHMIDT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Applicafion filed May 29, 1901 (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 8.

No. 705,449. v ,Patented July 22, I902.

wnNEssEs': I 'INVENTOR g I W filZzusHScfimzdi 7 BY I 44M M/C. 9E a ATTORNEY No. 705,449. Patented July 22, I902.

J. H. SCHM l DT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Appligation filed May 29, 1901.)

I4 Sheets-Shana m: uonms PETERS ca. FMOTCl-LITHQ. WASHKNGTON, c.

No. 705,449. Patented July 22, I902.

J. H. SCHMIDT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed may 29, 1901.) (No Model.) I I4 Sheets-Sheet l0.

IIIIIMIE E? WITNESSES: 9'1 a:

g .TaZzZzJ'Z 0721/1536 g z A L ATTORNEY- Patented July 22, I902. J. H. SCHMIDT.

CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 29, 1901.)

I4 Sheets-Sheet I},

(No Model.)

my ll WITNESSES W ATTORNEY Patented July 22, I902.

J. H. SCHMIDT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 29, 1901.)

l4 Sheets8heet l2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: 3%

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No. 705,449. Patented July 22, I902.

\ J. H. SCHMIDT.

CIGAR B UNCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed. m 29, 1901. (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet l4.

INVENTOR JalaaL/Z Jc/mzz'df Illl III

IIIIII .25; 1.3w. L31. WW W UNIT D STATES f' PAT NT GFFICE.

JULIUS H. SCHMIDT, OF BAYONNE,N-EW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM E. SHARPS, TRUSTEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIGAR-BUNCl-IING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 705,449, dated July 22, 1902.

' Application filed m 29, 196i. Serial1 l'o. 62,367. m model.)

To all whom it may con dent:

Be it'known that I, JULIUs H. ScHMIDna citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have-invented certain new and usefnllmprovements in Gigar-Bunching Machines, of which the following is a specification. r

The invention relates toimprovements in no cigar-bunching machines; and itconsists in the novel features and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the' claims. I

I present the invention in thisapplication as embodied in a machine possessing a hopper within which the filler-tobacco in bulk is placed and which contains means for feeding downward and preventing the clogging of the tobacco, an o'scillatory receiver orcharge-car- 2o rier located at the discharge end of the hop' per, suitable rolling mechanism, a rollingapron held at both ends and provided with means for-taking up the slack in the apron at the propertime, pocket forming and closing mechanism,'a slidable mold-block to receivethe finished bunches, a vertical funnel into which the bunches are rolled from the roll-- ing-apron and the lower edges of which are adapted to enter the molds in the mold-block,

0 a plunger for pressing the bunches through said funnel and into the molds of the moldblock, and other features, all'of which will be hereinafter described, and the novel elements and combinationsv of which will be pointed out in the claims. The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter present ed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top view, partly broken away and partly in section, of-a cigar-bunching machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the sectional portion of this figure being through the hopper on the 5 dotted line 1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same, a portion of the upper part of the machine being omitted. Fig. 3 is a like view of the rear end of the machine.

Figs. el and 4* represent, taken together, a

5 and 5, taken together, represent a longitudinal section through themachine on the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the hopper for holding the filler-tobacco in bulk, the front face of the hopper being omitted for the purpose of disclosing the interior mechanism. Fig. 7 is a Vertical section of same on the dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section,-partly brokenaway,through the hopper for the filler-tobacco in bulk, the charge-carrier disposed at the lower end thereof, the means for conveyingthe separate charges of filler-tobacco from the chargecarrier to the rolling-apron, the means for forming the pocket in the rolling-apron to receive the charge of filler-tobacco, the rollingbed supporting the said apron, and the plate .forlclosing'the pocket formedin said apron.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detached View of a detailed portion of the operative mechanism,

this view being taken at the .front end of the main supporting-frame of the machine and atthe right-hand side of said frame, and the mechanism shown beingthe-ratchet mechanism by which an intermittent motion is imparted to the mold-board which receives'the bunches one after another after they are formed. Fig. 10 is a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the lower end of the hopper for holding the fillertobacco in bulk with the charge-carrier in position below said end, this view being presented more particularly to illustrate, in connection with Fig. 8, the means for supporting and operating the saidcharge-carrier. Fig. 11 is a detached centralvertical longitudinal section, partly broken away, of the front portion of the bed of the machine, with the parts carried thereby. Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section through the rolling-bed of the machine on the dottedline'12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a detached View, partlyin section, of a portion of the mechanism connected with the slide for holdingthe intermittentlynnoving mold-board. Fig. 1st is a detached top View, partly in section, of a portion of the mechanism and showing more particularly the .bell mechanism, which is sounded when the mold-board has been filled with bunches. Fig. 15 is a detached view looking at the righthand side of the machine, of the means provided for winding up the rolling-apron at its inner end. Fig. 16 is a vertical transverse section through a portion of the machine, and is presented to illustrate the clutch mechanism for the power-wheel. Fig. 17 is a detached face view, partly broken away, of the clutch memberfor engaging the power or belt wheel. Fig. 18 is a like View, partly broken away, of the power or belt wheel. Fig. 19 is a detached View of one of the operative details of the machine, and will be hereinafter referred to; and Figs. 20 to 37, inclusive, are detached views of the various cams forming parts of the operative mechanism of the machine, and said cams will be hereinafter specifically designated by reference-numerals.

In the drawings designates a suitable supporting-frame of any desirable construction, and 51 the feed-hopper for holding the filler-tobacco in bulk, said hopper being of usual funnel-shape form and supported above the rear portion of the main frame 50 upon suitable brackets 52. Below the lower end of the hopper 51 is mounted the oscillatory charge-carrier 53, which is preferably of metal and of segmental outline in cross-section, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8. The chargecarrier 53 has imparted to itan oscillatory motion from its receiving position, in Figs. 5 and 8 to its discharging position, hereinafter described, and then back to its receiving position, said charge-carrier not making a complete rotation.

The feed-hopper 51 is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 and is provided along one of its walls with the reciprocatory board 54, carrying the series of pins 55 and plunger 56, said plunger 56 being a bar adapted to the dimensions of the pocket 57 in the charge-carrier 53 and being supported upon rods 58, suspended from the cross-bar 59 and capable of moving upward through apertures in the said cross bar. Between the cross-bar 59 and plunger 56 are provided upon the rods 58 the coiled springs 60, which exert a downward pressure upon the plunger 56, but permit the said plunger to yield upwardly when the said plunger is pushed downward against the tobacco in the lower end of the hopper 51. The plunger 56 is therefore yieldingly held and is capable of movement vertically independently of the movement which may be imparted to it during the reciprocation of the board 54, carrying said plunger. The cross-bar 59 is connected with the board 54 by means of a suitable bracketarm 61. The pins 55, carried by the board 54, project outward, so as to be within the body of the filler-tobacco to be held within the hopper 51, and during the vertical motion of the board 54 the said pins serve to keep the filler-tobacco in a substantially light condition, so as to prevent the packing of the tobacco or the clogging of the same within the hopper 51. The purpose of the plunger 56 is to press the lower strata of the filler-tobacco and link 64 with said board 54.

into the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53 when the board 54 is moved to its lower position, which is that shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the special movement of the board 54 and plunger 56 in the operation of charging the pocket 57 of the carrier 53 will be hereinafter more clearly explained.

The board 54 receives its reciprocating motion from the horizontal shaft 62, passing through the hopper 51 and connected, as shown in Fig. 7, by means of the crank 63 The shaft 62 has an oscillatory motion imparted to it from the cam 65, Figs. 3, 28, and 29, secured on the rear shaft 66 and connected with said shaft 62 through the medium of the pitmanrod 67, Figs. 3 and 5, lever-arm 68, secured on the rock-shaft 69 and pivotally connected with the upper end of the said rod 67, leverarm 70, secured on said rock-shaft 69, pitman-rod 71, secured at its lower end to said lever-arm 70, and the crank-arm 72, secured to the aforesaid shaft 62 and pivotally connected with the upper end of said pitman-rod 71. The rotation of the cam imparts a vertical reciprocatory motion to the pitmanrods 67 and 71 and said rods operate through the crank-arm 72 to rock or oscillate the shaft, 62, which in turn through the crank-arm 63 and link 64 causes the board 54 to have a sliding or reciprocating motion, said motion being of course imparted to the pins 55 and plunger 56, carried by said board. During the reciprocating motion of the board 54, pins 55, and plunger 56 the tobacco in bulk above the plunger is kept in a loosened conditionthat is, against packing-and the tobacco below the plunger 56 is caused to fill the charge-pocket 57 in the oscillatory carrier 53. The timing of the cam 65 is such that the board 54 and plunger 56 will when the chargecarrier 53 is in its receiving position (shown in Fig. 8) descend to their lower position just before the machine comes to a stop, and consequently when the machine does come to a stop the plunger 56 will have descended and pressed some of the tobacco below it into the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53. The timing of the cam 65 is also such that when the machine is again started in motion and before the charge-carrier 53 turns its pocket 57 toward the front from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8 the plunger 56 and board 54 will ascend and again descend, thus giving the plunger 56 two downward movements against the tobacco for filling the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53 and whereby the operator can always make sure that the chargecarricr pocket 57 is filled with tobacco before the charge-carrier turns frontward to discharge the tobacco from its pocket 57. When the plunger 56 descends on its second downward movement, it remains in its lower position (shown in Fig. 8) until the charge-carrier 53 moves its pocket 57 frontward to its discharging position, whereby said plunger is utilized to prevent the tobacco in the IIO - tobacco within the said pocket 57 When the charge-carrier 53 has turned front-- ward to discharge the contents of the pocket 57, the plunger 56 will, owing to the form and timing of the cam 65, ascend withjthe board 54, so as .to be in its elevated position during the return of the pocket 57 to its receiving-position below the hopper 51, and thereupon before the machine comes to a stop the plunger56 will descend to its lower position, driving some of the tobacco into the pocket 57. The plunger 56 thus makes two descents in filling the pocket 57of the chargecarrier 53, this being important because thereby the pocket 57 becomes assuredly filled with the tobacco, and the plunger 56 does not have to press so rigidly and firmly against the tobacco as to wedge or cake the that the plunger 56 is yieldingly backed by the springs 60 is also of advantage, since by reason thereof the said plunger is not liable to cake or pack the tobacco within the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53.

The charge-carrier 53 is mounted between the facings 74c, forminga part of the supporting-brackets 52 for the hopper 51, and said charge-carrier is ,loosely mounted upon the transverse shaft 75, which is held stationary, as shown in Fig. 10', by means of a screw 76. The charge-carrier 53 turns on the stationary shaft 75 from its receiving position (shown in Fig. 8) to its discharging position, hereinafter described,1and then back-to its receiving position, not making a complete rotation. The pocket 57 in the charge-carrier 53 .is of elongated form and adapted to hold sufficient filler-tobacco for the formation of one bunch. The bottom of the pocket 57 is slotted plates and are adapted to have a sliding motion, said sliding motion being limited by the Walls of the slots or openings in said plates. The end plates 79 are provided with the pins 81, Figs. 6, 8, and 10, which are adapted tomove within the slots of the stationary cams 82, secured upon the aforesaid stationary shaft 75. The purpose of the The fact I cams 82 is,through the medium of the pins 81, todraw the bar 77, forming the bottom of the pocket 57, to its. extreme lower position when said pocket is, as shown in Fig; 8, belowthe hopper 51, andto force said bar 77 to its extreme outward position when the pocket 57 has turned frontward for the purpose of discharging its contents into the receiver 83. The cams 82 thus control the position of the bar 77 constituting the bottom of the pocket 57, and effect the discharge or ejection of the charge of filler-tobacco from-the pocket 57, when the charge-carrier 53 is turned frontward into position to deliver the filler-tobacco to the receiver 83, by which at the proper time the said charge of filler-tobacco is con-, ducted to the loop or pocket of the rollingapron.

. The charge-carrier 53 is in the nature of a segment, and is, as above described, loosely mounted upon the stationary shaft 75. At its left-hand end, Figs. 6 and 10, the chargecarrier 53 is formed with the short shaft 84, within which the left-hand end of the stationary shaft 75 is supported, and which shaft 84 is provided on its outer end with the pinionwheel 85. The pinion-wheel 85 is in mesh with the rack 86 upon the upper end of the rod 87, and by means of the pinion 85 and rack 86 the shaft 84 and charge-carrier 53 have imparted to them a rocking or oscillatory motion, so that said charge-carrier 53 may carry its pocket 57 from its receiving position (shown in Fig. 8) toa position over the chargereceiver 83 (this being the discharging position for the pocket 57) and then back to its receiving position. The rod 87, carrying at its upper end the rack 86 for operating the charge-carrier 53, receives its motion from the cam 88, Fig. 4, secured on the rear shaft 66, hereinbefore referred to. The cam 88 simply imparts to the rod 87 an up-and-down motion, and is so timed that it may operate through the rack 86 and pinion-wheel 85 to turn the charge-carrier 53 from its receiving position to its discharging position and then 86 is guided and held against the pinion-wheel 85 by means of an inclosing and protecting frame 89. (Indicated in Fig. 4.)

The cam .88 is shown in detailin Figs.- 34 and 35, Fig. 34: being a face-view of the cam, and Fig. 35 avertical section of same on the dottedline 35 35 of Fig. 34..

The receiver 83 to receive the separate -charges of filler-tobacco from the charge-carrier 53 is probably more clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8, and the said receiver 83 is adapted to have a substantially vertical movement from its upper receiving position (shown in Figs. 5 and 8) to its discharging position, in which position the lower edges of said receiver 83 are within the recess 90, formed in the {top bed-frame 91 of the machine. The purpose of the receiver 83 is primarily to receive when in its upper position the charge of filler-tobacco from the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53 and convey the same to the loop or pocket in the rolling-apron 92, which extends over the bed-frame 91 and across the recess therein. The second purpose of the receiver 83 is to press the slack portion of the rolling-apron 92 into the aforesaid recess 90, so that the loop or pocket 93 may, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, be formed in said apron 92 preparatory to receiving the charge of fillertobacco for a bunch. The receiver 83 on its downward motion operates to press the slack of the apron 92 downward into the recess 90 to form the pocket 93. The receiver 83 has an open top, solid back and ends, and a hinged front door 94, the latter being swung from the pivot-rod 95 and normally kept in its closed position by means of a spring 96, (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8,) the upper end of said spring 96 being fastened to the end of the receiver 83, and the lower end of said spring being fastened to a short arm 97, secured upon the right-hand end of the pivot-rod 95. The receiver 83 is substantially wedge-shaped in vertical section, as shown, and the narrow end of said receiver points downward. The spring 96 will keep the door 94 of the receiver 83 closed at all times except when said receiver 83 is reaching its lower position and it becomes necessary that the charge of filler-tobacco therein shall be deposited within the pocket 93 of the rollingapron 92. The means for opening the door 94 of the receiver 83 comprise the lever-arm 98, secured on the right-hand end portion of the pivoted rod 95, and the stationary finger 99, which is fastened to the right-hand supporting-bracket 52 and has its front end turned inwardly, so that it will stand in a position in the path of the rear inclined edge of the aforesaid lever-arm 98. When the receiver 83 is moved to its lower position, the rear inclined edge of the lever-arm 98 will pass against the front end of the finger 99 and operate as a cam to open the door 94 against the stress of the spring 96, whereby the charge of filler-tobacco within the receiver 83 will be permitted to escape into the pocket 93 of the rolling-apron 92. After the escape of the charge of filler-tobacco from the receiver 83 into the pocket 93 of the apron 92 the said receiver will-return to its upper position, and as soon as the lever-arm 98 leaves the finger 99 (during the upward movement of the receiver 83) the spring 96 will close the door 94 and maintain the latter in its closed position until the receiver again descends. The receiver 83 has secured to it a wire frame 100, composed of a horizontal member and two vertical members, the horizontal member being a suitable distance below the lower edge of the receiver 83 and constituting the means for pushing the slack of the apron 92 downward into the recess 90 of the bed-frame 91 in order to form in said apron the pocket or loop 93 to receive the charge of filler-tobacco. The frame 100 is secured to and moves with the receiver 83, and said frame extending below the receiver 83 will precede the receiver 33 on the downward movement of the latter and insure the proper formation of the pocket 93 in the rolling-apron 92 to receive the charge of filler-tobacco from the receiver 83. The receiver 83 will preferably be formed of sheet metal, and the pocket-forming frame 100 will preferably be made of a piece or rod of bent wire. It will be observed upon reference to Fig. 8 that the upper end of the back of the receiver 83 is cutaway, so that its upper edge is below the upper edge of the front of said receiver, and the purpose of this formation is to permit the proper discharge of the fillertobacco from the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53Wl16l1 the latter is turned frontward without danger of any of the tobacco escaping from the top of said receiver 83. It will be observed also that the pivoted rod 95 for the hinged door 94 of the receiver 83 is about on the same horizontal plane with the upper ed go of the back of said receiver, and the purpose of this feature of the construction is to compel the discharge of the filler-tobacco from the pocket 57 of the charge-carrier 53 ata point above the door 94, so that the action of the ejector-bar 77 when moving the filler-tobacco from the pocket 57 may not have any influence to open the door 94, the discharging filler -tobacco from the pocket 57 passing against the solid front wall of the receiver 83, or, in other words, against that portion of the receiver 83 where it will have no efiect in the way of forcing the door 94 open, it being desirable that the door 94 should remain absolutely closed at all times except when the receiver 83 is in its lower position ready to discharge its contents into the pocket 93 of the rolling-apron 92.

The means for efiecting the up-and-down motion of the receiver 83 will now be described.

The receiver 83 is secured upon the front end of the arm 101, which extends rearwardly and substantially centrally over the bedframe 91 and is secured at its rear end upon the rock-shaft 10.2, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5. The arm 101, carrying the receiver 83, has a vibratory motion imparted to it by means of the rod 103, whose lower end is pivotally secured to the lever-arm 104, Fig. 5, rigid with the rock-shaft 105, which rock-shaft by means of the said lever-arm 104 and intermediate rod 103 imparts the proper motion to the arm 101, carrying the receiver 83, and the said rock-shaft 105 derives its motion from the cam 106 on the shaft 66, Figs. 3and4, through the medium of the connecting-rod 107, cugaged at its lower portion by said cam 106 and at its upper end being pivotally connected to the lever-arm 108, secured to the aforesaid rock-shaft105, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The cam 106, operating through the rod 107 and lever-arm 108, imparts to the rockshaft its oscillatory motion, and said shaft 105, operatingthrough the lever-arm 104 and connecting-rod 103, effects the-proper movement of the arm 101 and receiver 83. It will be observed upon reference to Figs. 4 and 5 that the lever-arm 104 is slotted, so that the lower end of theconnectingrod 103 may be adjusted with respect to the distance said rod 103 shall be secured to the lever-arm 104 from the rock-shaft 105, and the .purpose of this adjustment of the rod 103is to regulate the movement of the arm 101 and receiver 83,

so that said receiver 83 and its pocket-forming frame 100 shall have just the properextent of movement. The cam106 is shown in detail in Figs. 32 and 33, Fig.- 32 being a face view of the cam, and Fig. 33 being a vertical section of the same onthe dotted line 33 33 of Fig. 32. The cam 106 is also shown in Fig. 19, which illustrates said cam in its relation to the lower end of the connecting-rod 107.

The rolling-apron 92 is of customary flexible material and is secured at its rear end to the rod 109, while at its front end said apron 92 is fastened upon the transverse bar 110,'as shown in Fig. 5 ,disposed below the bed-frame 91 of the machine. The rod 109 is mounted in apertures or bearings formed in the supporting-brackets 52 andv is capable of rotation therein, so that the said rod 109 may be turned to wind the apron 92 upon itself or to unwind the same therefrom, the purpose of making the rod 109 so as to be capable of rotation being to enable the operator to regulate in a very convenient manner the length of the rolling apron 92, whereby the said apron 92 may be so adjusted as to its length as to-meet the varying requirements for the different sizes of bunches which maybe made. If for any reason, such as continued use, the apron 92 should become stretched, the slack of the apron may be taken up by rotating the rod 109. The right-,handend-of the rod 109 is formed with a knob or handle 111, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 15, for the convenient rotation of the said rod 109. The rod 109 is held against improper movement by means of the ratchet 112, Fig. 15, secured thereon and engaged by the pawl 113, the latter being pivoted to the side of the bracket 52 and held against the ratchet 112 by means of the coiled spring 114:. The pawl 113 will permit the turning of the rod 109, so as to wind the apron 92 upon itself, but said pawl will prevent any reverse motion of said rod 109. When, therefore, it is desired to unwind any portion of the apron 92 from off of the rod 109 it will be necessary for the operator to elevate the en gaging end of the pawl 113 from the ratchet 112, so that the ratchet 112'and rod 109 may be turned freely by hand and be'relieved from the influence of the pawl 113. After the proper extent of apron 92 shall have beenuuwound from the rod 109 the pawl 113 will be permitted to. again engage theratchet 112. Thefront portion of the rolling-apron 92 passes over a roller 115, secured at the front end of the, main bed -.frame 91, and thence turns rearwardly to the transverse bar-110, hereinbefore referred to, to which the front end of the said rolling-apron is secured. The trans verse bar has its ends turned downward and rearward at right angles to the length of the said bar 110, and said ends (numbered 116) are pivotally secured in the lower ends of hangers 117, which are rigid with the bedframe 91 and which permit the transverse bar 110 to have a limited oscillatorymotion when desired. The left-hand end 1160f the transverse bar 110 at its pivot numbered 118, Fig. 4, is provided with a crank-arm 119, which is operated to impart the proper motion to the transverse bar 110 by means of the rod 120 and cam 121, the latter being secured upon the shaft 122 and operating to impart an upvand-down motion to the saidrod 120, whereby the latter, through the crank-arm 119, is

enabled to turn the transverse bar 110 upward toward the rear of the machine or downwardly and slightly frontwardly from that position .during the operation of rolling a bunch, as

willbehereinafter more fully explained. The cam 121 is shown in detail in Figs. 26 and 27, Fig. 26 beinga face View of the cam, and Fig. 27 a vertical section of the same on thedotted line 27 27 of Fig. 26. \Vhen during the operation of the machine the apron92 is in the usual manner rolling the bunch toward the front end of the machine, the transverse bar 110 will move slightly upward and rearward under the action of the cam 121 for the purpose of keeping the front portion of thesaid apron 92 in a substantially taut condition, and when thebunchhas reached the front end of the rolling-table and is about to be discharged therefrom the said transverse bar 110 will turn downward and frontward to a limited extent in order toslacken the apron 92. The rolling-apron 92 is normally greater in length than the distance between the rod 109 and transverse bar 110, so that the frame 100, carried by'the receiver 83, may be enabled at the proper time to form the pocket or loop 93 in said apron.

The apron 92 is disposed upon the rollingbed 125, which consists of a thin sheet-steel plate supported at its longitudinal edges only upon the bed-frame 91, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The bed-frame 91 is recessed below the rolling-bed 125, so that there may be sufficient space below said rolling-bed to permit the latter to yield downward to a limited extent during the rolling of the cigar-bunches over the same. The rolling-bed 125 is held by screws 120, Fig. 12, upon the bed-frame 91, and the holes in said rolling-bed 125, through which the. screws 126 pass, are slightly larger than thediameter of thehead of the. screws in order that the rolling-bed 125 may yield downward slightly along its central portions during the rolling of the cigar-bunches. The rolling-bed 125 is thus a yielding bed, and I regard this feature of the construction as of great importance, since I have discovered that by means of this slightly, yielding rolling-bed I am enabled to make bunches of great uniformity in consistency. The presence of the yielding rolling-bed 125 avoids the formation of undulyhard bunches, and I have discovered that with the use of the machine made the subject of this application I am enabled to roll what are commonly called soft bunches.

The rolling-apron is employed in connection with the transverse roller 127 and is kept against said roller 127 by means of the small rod or roller 128, Fig. 11, these rollers 127 and 128 being familiar in the art to which this invention relates. The rollers 127 128 are mountedin the slide-bearings 129, which are guided in grooves 130, Fig. 1, formed in the edges of the bed-frame 91. The slidebearings 129 have simply a direct longitudinal motion along the edges of the bed-frame 91, so as to carry the roller 127 frontward over the rolling-bed 125 and then backward to its normal position in the rear of the recess 90, formed in the bed-frame 91. The means for operating the slide-bearings 129 are probably more clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, in which it will be seen that each slide-bearing 129 has connected with it an arm 131, said arms 131 being disposed one at each side or edge of the bed-frame 91 and extending rear- \vardly to the upper ends of the arms 132, Fig. 3, of the frame 133, which is pivotally secured upon the rod 134, near the floor, and is adapted to have a rocking or vibratory motion on said rod. The frame 133 receives its motion from the middle shaft 122 through the medium of the cam 135, secured on said shaft 122, and the connecting-rod 136, which is engaged at one end by said cam 135 and at its rear end is pivotally secured to the said frame 133. The said cam 135 is shown in detail in Figs. 24 and 25, Fig. 24 being a face view of the cam and Fig. 25 a vertical section of same on the dotted line 25 25 of Fig. 2t. The cam 135, in connection with the rod 136, impartsa rocking motion to the frame 133, and this frame 133 during its motion toward the front of the machine will, through the rods 131 and slide-bearings 129, move the roller 127 frontward along the rolling-bed 125 for the purpose of rolling the bunch and discharging the same over the front end of said rolling-bed and over the roller 115 at the front edge of the said bed, while during the movement of said frame 133 toward the rear of the machine the said frame, operating through the said rods 131 and slide bearings 129, will pull the roller 127 back to its normal position in the rear of the recess 90 in the bed-frame 91. The timing of the frame 133 and cam 135 is such that the roller 127 will not start forward until after the receiver 83 has delivered the charge of filler-tobacco to the pocket 93 in the apron 92 and has ascended clear of said apron nor until the sliding plate 137, hereinafter described, has advanced to close the pocket 93 of the apron 92 upon the charge of filler-tobacco deposited in said pocket by the receiver 83.

The plate 137 is mounted upon the bedframe 91 in the rear of the recess 90, formed in said bed-frame to receive the pocket 93 of the rolling-apron 92, and said plate 137 is simply a flat plate disposed upon the bed-frame 91 between the supporting-brackets 52, and the said plate 137 has simply a sliding movement toward the front and then back toward the rear on said bed-frame 91. It will be observed upon reference to Figs. 8 and 11 that the plate 137 when in its normal at-rest position is at the rear edge of the recess 90 in the bed-frame 91. After the charge of fillertobacco has been delivered by the receiver 83 into the pocket 93 of the rollingapron the operator will, as usual, place the binder upon the apron 92 in such position that its edge will turn slightly into the pocket 93 of said apron, and when this has been done the plate 137 will move frontward and close the pocket 93 upon the charge of filler-tobacco and cause the aforesaid edge of the binder to become pinched between the folds of the apron 92 by the closing of said pocket 93. The movement forward of the plate 137 to close the pocket 93 of the apron 92 takes place before the roller 127 starts forward, and said plate 137 remains in its frontward position, holding the pocket 93 closed until the roller 127 has started forward and is in a position to take its place over the pocket 93 and travel onward in advance of the charge of fillertobacco confined in said pocket, whereupon the plate 137 will move rearward, so as to release the pocket 93 with the charge of filler-tobacco therein from the recess 90 in the bed-frame 91. The plate 137 is about on the same horizontal plane with the rollingbed 125, and when said plate 137 moves forward to press the folded portions of the rolling-apron against the rear edge of the said rolling-bed 125 the forward motion of the plate 137 by closing the upper edge of the pocket 93 on the rear edge of the binder prevents the said binder from losing its position or being moved from correct position by the advancing roller 127, the said binder being held by the plate 137 until the roller 127 has moved forward to a sufiicient extent to control the same.

The means for imparting movement to the pocket-closing plate 137 are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, in which it will be seen that to the upper surface of the plate 137 is pivotally secured a link 138, whose rear end is pivotally secured to the crank-arm 13.9,rigid upon the rock-shaft 140, which rock-shaft during its movement operates to slide the plate 137, and itself is operated from the rear shaft 66 by means of the cam 141 on said shaft, and 

